Bruins lucky against Irish

The St. Bede Bruins rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Seneca 7-6 in 10 innings in regional baseball semifinal play Wednesday at Ottawa Marquette.

Austin Schwab reached on a throwing error in the bottom of the 10th before scoring the game-winning run on a short sacrifice fly in foul territory near the first base fence by Brandon Piotrowski.

St. Bede coach John Bellino said the Bruins (18-2) were fortunate to win and outhit by the Irish 13-6. Seneca stranded 12 runners, including five in scoring position.

“(Seneca) deserved to win. I mean they shut us down for the majority of the game. We waited until the sixth inning to get things going and you can’t do that at this time of the year,” Bellino told Shaw Media Service. “We’re very fortunate.”

Seneca outhit the Bruins 13-6, but stranded 12 runners, five of which were in scoring position.

Irish pitcher Austin Applebee retired the first nine batters he faced and took a no-hitter into the fifth. Brandon Pietrowski and Jake Postula hit safely and Sam Lucas delivered a bases-loaded triple to cut the Irish lead to 5-4.

Schwab had a game-tying, two-run hit in the seventh to tie the game at 6.

“Austin has been a good hitter for us all year,” Bellino said.

Damin Smith came on relief in the seventh, pitching three scoreless innings to notch the victory.